North Korea has flatly denied accusations pointing to North Korean landmines as the cause of an explosion in the DMZ, calling it a "clear self-staged drama."

In a statement dated yesterday released through the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) today (September 30), Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, referred to the South Korean military as "South Korean armed gangsters" and claimed they had "carried out a provocative act targeting us once again."

Kim argued, "In terms of the timing and methods of provocation, this incident is a clear self-staged drama reminiscent of the 'wooden-box mine incident' that stirred up the world over a decade ago."

Regarding the South Korean military mentioning "proper and corresponding measures," she characterized it as creating a "pretext to justify political and military provocations," showing vigilance by citing proposals such as reinstalling anti-North loudspeaker broadcasts raised by some within the People Power Party.

Kim claimed that the "border fortification project" was strictly "an exercise of sovereignty that has nothing to do with military purposes."

She also said the South Korean military was finding "groundless fault" with North Korean troops crossing the border, claiming that warning broadcasts and warning shots had been conducted daily since August even though North Korean soldiers "have never crossed the border line even once."

Kim also warned, "If live firing is carried out, our border units will deliver immediate and relentless retaliation," revealing that "counteraction guidelines" have already been issued to front-line units.

In particular, she stated, "Our military has decided to take measures to reinforce tactical counterattack means in the direction of the Demilitarized Zone of the South Korean military's 3rd Corps 21st Infantry Division, where provocations have recently been frequent."

Kim added, "The dramatic climax of Seoul's self-staged farce will by no means be entertaining, and the entire responsibility for all consequences will be borne entirely by the parties who planned the provocation."

The South Korean military authorities assessed that the landmine explosion that occurred in the DMZ on September 28 was highly likely North Korea's doing, stating that they would take corresponding measures if it is finally confirmed to be a landmine planted by North Korea.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, when asked at a plenary session of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee yesterday whether it could be seen as certain that it was a North Korean military landmine, answered "Yes," and also answered "Yes" when asked whether he viewed it as planted rather than displaced.